Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikalcerros’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Fikalcerros’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching plant habit; glossy green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large light red purple-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIKALCERROS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fikalcerros’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-flowering Kalanchoe plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2005 of a proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 5490 (2003), not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 1005 (2003), not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fikalcerros’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fikalcerros’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching plant habit.     -   4. Glossy green-colored leaves.     -   5. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large light red purple-colored flowers.     -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are larger than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger leaves than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the female parent selection         differ in flower color.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have slightly larger leaves than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the male parent selection         differ in flower color.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Oriba’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,337. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Oriba’ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact than plants of         ‘Oriba’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had smaller leaves than plants of         ‘Oriba’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had smaller flowers than plants         of ‘Oriba’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fikalcerros’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 10-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural conditions which closely approximate commercial Kalanchoe production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 26° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 lux to 55,000 lux. Plants received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about four weeks then plants received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Fikalcerros’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana identified as code number 5490 (2003), not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana identified as code number 1005 (2003), not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; greyish white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly             mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit with numerous             cymes positioned above the foliar plane; inverted triangle             with rounded crown; appropriate for 10-cm to 15-cm             containers; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 16 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about six to             seven lateral branches develop per plant; pinching (removal             of the terminal apex) is not required but will enhance             lateral branch development. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 13 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm to 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 147A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical; mostly             flat; glossy.         -   Quantity per plant.—About eight to 13 mature leaves and             about 14 to 22 generative leaves.         -   Length.—About 11 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; succulent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to 147A; venation, close to 147A to 147B. Developing             and fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 147B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 8 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147A to 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Flowers arranged singly in             cymes that arise from leaf axils; uniform and freely             flowering habit with usually about 25 open flowers and about             25 flower buds per lateral branch and more than 150 open             flowers and flower buds per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe             initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night             conditions or during November and December in The             Netherlands; flower initiation and development can also be             induced under artificial short day/long night conditions (at             least 14 hours of darkness).         -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive             conditions, plants begin flowering in about eight to ten             weeks; actual time to flower is primarily dependent upon             temperature and light intensity; plants flower continuously             for at least seven weeks.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about 56 days under interior environmental conditions;             individual flowers last about 24 days on the plant; flowers             persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid with             development. Color: Close to 138C and 49D.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: About four in a single whorl. Length:             About 9 mm. Width: About 7 mm. Aspect: Flat to somewhat             upright. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to N57C. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 62B to 62C. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to N57C; color does not fade with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 62B to 62C.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About             7 mm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:             Acute. Base: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Aspect:             Erect. Strength: Strong, rigid. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight             per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther length:             About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil             number: About four per flower. Pistil length: About 1 mm.             Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 138D. Stigma             shape: Flat. Stigma color: Close to 8D. Ovary color: Close             to 138D.         -   Seeds.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:             Close to 166C. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 12° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Kalanchoe plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikalcerros’ as illustrated and described. 